Parachute hat



C. P- M CANN PARA CHUTE HAT Oct. 10, 1967 Filed July 25, 1966 lNl/E'NTOR P. MCANN S w. m m

WWW/W y ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,345,646 PARACHUTE HAT Charles P. McCaun, Blakeley Laue, Newfoundland, NJ. 07435 Filed July 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,559 3 Claims. (Cl. 2199) This invention relates generally to a childs novelty amusement hat, and particularly to a parachute-like hat.

It is an object of the invention to provide an amusement novelty hat in a form resembling a parachute.

It is another object of the invention to encourage children to run about and exercise themselves, in order to cause the parachute hat to billow in an amusing and attractive manner.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novelty hat which may be inflated with a lighter-than-air gas, so that the hat will hover over the wearer, tethered by shrouds and will follow the wearer in a novel and entertaining manner as he moves about.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be attained by the device shown by way of illustration in the drawings in which;

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view of a parachute hat, partially sectioned; and

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the parachute hat attached to the head of a child.

The parachute hat has a generally hemispheric hollow inflated body 11, which is externally convex. A valve 12 is positioned in the wall of the body. In the drawing, the valve is shown on the exterior of convex surface, but its position is not important and it may be located on the interior surface of the body 11 or it may be in a nonpolar position. The valve 12 serves to permit the body 11 to be inflated and to contain the air 13 in the body. Instead of air 13 in the body 11, a lighter-than-air gas such as hydrogen or helium may be used although this is not necessary. At times, in strong sunlight, the entrapped air will expand to make the body rather light and cause it to billow. A plurality of shrouds or cords 14 are secured at equal intervals to the equatorial edge of the hemispheric body 11. These shrouds are preferably made of light weight cord so as not to weigh down the body 11; in this manner, the movement of the body 11 through the air will tend to make it billow, or rise and roll through the air in an attractive and amusing manner, giving a novel parachute elfect.

The body 11 is held captive by the shrouds 14, being attached to a head-strap 15. The head-strap is provided 3,345,646 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 with a plurality of cooperative snap-fasteners 16 so that it may be lengthened or shortened to fit the head size of the child who may wear it. If the body 11 is inflated with a lighter-than-air gas, a novel eflect is attained by the body 11 floating above the head of the wearer while he stands still. On the other hand, if the gas inflation media is not of that kind, the para-chute hat will perhaps drape behind the wearer, but will stir with every current of air, and will billow about with every movement of the wearer, providing an amusing effect.

The body 11 may be made of elastic or non-elastic rubber or some similar material impenetrable by gaseous material. The shrouds 14 may be made of cotton, nylon or some thin, light cord. The head-strap 15 may be fabric, plastic or leather.

The foregoing is intended merely to be illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, for many changes may be made in the construction, selection and arrangement of the parts, all within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A parachute hat comprising (a) a generally hemispheric hollow inflatable body having inner and outer layers of air impervious Inaterial,

(b) a plurality of flexible shrouds each attached at one end to the equatorial edge of the body,

(0) a head-strap,

(d) the other end of each shroud attached to the said head-strap,

(e) said plurality of shrouds each having a length spacing said body a substantial distance from said head-strap whereby said body will be disposed in spaced relation to a wearers head when inflated with lighter-than-air gas.

2. A parachute hat as defined in claim 1 wherein said head-strap includes adjustable means.

3. A parachute hat as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes valve means to permit inflation and deflation of said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 250,803 12/1881 Gray 3,009,162 11/1961 Hori 

1. A PARACHUTE HAT COMPRISING (A) A GENERALLY HEMISPHERIC HOLLOW INFLATABLE BODY HAVING INNER AND OUTER LAYERS OF AIR IMPREVIOUS MATERIAL, (B) A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE SHROUDS EACH ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE EQUATORIAL EDGE OF THE BODY, (C) A HEAD-STRAP, (D) THE OTHER END OF EACH SHROUD ATTACHED TO THE SAID HEAD-STRAP, (E) SAID PLURALITY OF SHROUDS EACH HAVING A LENGTH SPACING SAID BODY A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID HEAD-STRAP WHEREBY SAID BODY WILL BE DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO A WEARER''S HEAD WHEN INFLATED WITH LIGHTER-THAN-AIR GAS. 